Meekers roots came from the Yampatika people, early descendants of the Ute People, who suffered during the turbulent period of the gold rush. The History of Meeker can be seen first hand by visiting the White River Museum! Many Hollywood celebrities and other prominent individuals visit Meeker and the White River Valley, especially during the summer months. He wanted to change the lifestyle of the Utes, the last indigenous people to inhabit Western Colorado before Europeans and Americans arrived. Meeker is a beautiful town in rural Northwest Colorado with a population of about 2,500. It's located in Colorado, United States.The cache is not at the posted coordinates! While living among the Ute, Meeker tried to extend his policy of religious and farming reforms, but they were used to a hunter-gathererlifestyle with seasonal bison hunting, as opposed to one which would require them to settle on a particular piece of land. This will be shown through pictures, videos, and detailed accounts documenting the changes that An immediate opening exists for a qualified candidate. in northwest Colorado. Nathanial Cook "Nathan" Meeker(July 12, 1817 September 30, 1879) was a 19th-century American journalist, homesteader, entrepreneur, and Indian agentfor the federal government. As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 2,242 people, 919 households, and 605 families residing in the town. The Meeker Public Library is putting together a virtual walk through of Meeker and it's history. There were 1,054 housing units at an average density of 361.9 per square mile (139.8/km2). It's a Micro size geocache, with difficulty of 2.5, terrain of 1.5. History of Meeker with a New Perspective ~ A Virtual Walk-Through September 29, 2020 Wildlife Viewing Meeker Style Flat Tops Scenic and Historic Byway September 17, 2020 Beyond the Meeker Classic, What to Do in For many years, it was the largest-producing oil field in Colorado. The site of the massacre, the former White River Indian Agency, is located along State Highway 64 in the White River valley west of town and is marked by a prominent sign. However, there are bound to be some things that Nathan Cook Meeker (18171879) was an agriculturalist, newspaper editor, and Indian agent. It attracted numerous famous figures of American history including Billy the Kid, President Theodore Roosevelt, and a small bank robbery gang. History of Meeker Colorado The White River Valley is an area rich in cultural heritage and dramatic American history. The town is named fo In addition to being the namesake of the town, Mount Meeker in the Rocky Mountain National Park was also named in Meekers honor. Relatively isolated from other communities, it sits near the intersection of State Highway 13 and State Highway 64, on the north side of the White River and at the base of a long ridge, known locally as China Wall. One hundred years ago Meeker, Colorado was a typical western town of frame buildings and dirt roads with nary a tree in sight. The median age was 39 years. I have attempted to make it 100% verifiable. Sanderson would go on to have a career that spanned the entire era of the classic Hollywood western, with his last credited appearance in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance in 1962, appearing with John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart. The town was named in honor of Nathan Meeker, a journalist, homesteader and entrepreneur who managed the White River Indian Agency. high Hi 33 38 48 57 68 79 Average low in F Av. Guides in period attire share the history of the family during tours of the 1870 two story adobe building. The town is also a favorite summer destination and permanent residence for many prominent Americans, including billionaire Henry Kravis, former President and COO of Goldman Sachs Jon Winkelried, and comedian Daniel Tosh. After the massacre and the ensuing conflict known as the Ute War, in 1880 the US Congress passed legislation requiring the Ute population to relocate to reservations in Utah. It is my hope you enjoy reading this page. Meeker is located at 40222N 1075439W / 40.03944N 107.91083W / 40.03944; -107.91083 (40.039539, -107.910709).[10]. Before departing for Rifle, Roosevelt reportedly bagged twelve mountain lions, a tally that steadily (and inaccurately) increased through word-of-mouth as Roosevelts stature as a hunter grew. The future stuntman and leading man left Meeker at the age of 18, taking his prowess as a White River cowboy to the C. Frederick Meeker Colorado Guided Tour azatvadmin 2019-10-24T14:08:12-07:00 Meeker, CO ATV Guided Tours We are offering 2-3 UTV tours with round trip transportation solutions from Aspen and Steamboat springs round trip. Location of Meeker in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The town of Meeker was founded in 1885 following the removal of the Camp at White River, a United States Army garrison that was established during the White River War of 1879. The United States Army established a garrison on the current site of the town, called the Camp at White River. B. Irwin Wild West Show in Grand Junction. Males had a median income of $36,026 versus $18,242 for females. Colorado like Colorado used to be. Though the project was ultimately a success, Meeker believed he If youre a fan of classic Hollywood cowboys, you may have heard of Buddy Roosevelt. None of the buildings remain. These numbers do not include the residents of the unincorporated area surrounding the town. Meeker, Colorado: R R R R R How It Works: Here at BestPlaces, we were looking at the voting patterns since the 2000 election and realized that we could express the results of each election as one letter. Following a letter to his son Kermit describing Skips antics during the hunt, Roosevelt asked Goff if he could adopt Skip and bring him back to Washington. The Last Major Indian Uprising From the days of the Yampatika people, early descendants of the Ute people, the tragedy of the Meeker Massacre and the Battle of Milk Creek and the founding of the town in 1885, Meeker has remained the historical, cultural and economic heart of northwestern Colorado. Meeker also sits near the heart of Colorados oil shale reserves. For state-wide library facilities, see Colorado Archives and Libraries. The home is fully decorated as it In Meeker, theres still Room to Roam Theres room to roam the breathtaking beauty and rugged landscape of Colorados White River Valley and to discover a stunning array of outdoor activities and adventures that await you and your family. Meeker and the surrounding areas nestled within the White River Valley is a very special place. Meekers association with Hollywood didnt end with Sandersons death in 1973. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. precip. [8] The town population was 2,475 at the 2010 United States Census. For three weeks in the winter of 1901, then Vice-President-elect Theodore Roosevelt visited the White River Valley for a mountain lion hunting expedition. Police Officer Position The Meeker Police Department is accepting applications for the position of Police Officer. Meeker and the surrounding region have also seen the highs and lows of energy development. At History Colorado in Denver the 2018 Stephen H. Hart Award for Historic Preservation was presented to the Rio Blanco County and Rio Blanco County Historical Society for the restoration of There were 919 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. The site of the massacre, the former White River Indian Agency, is located along State Highway 64 in the White River valley west of town and is marked by a prominent sign. None of the buildings remain. In addition to It is organized and well documented in a multitude of rooms and buildings that draw you in Pre. The racial makeup of the town was 96.39% White, 0.71% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 1.92% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. The median income for a household in the town was $34,479, and the median income for a family was $43,529. Not the case in Meeker where the White River Museum is rich in the area's history. Nathan C. Meeker arrived in this valley in 1878, coming from Greeley, Colorado, where he successfully established a Christian Communal Society. Meeker seemed to be in a hurry to force the Utes to forego their historical way of life and turn them into Christian farmers. East Spanish Peak, Sangre de Cristo Mountains The human history of Colorado extends back more than 14,000 years. The first Fourth of July celebration was held in 1884, and Meeker was incorporated a year later. The per capita income for the town was $17,647. Meeker is an iconic town in the history of Colorado. The biggest turning points in town were the tragedy of the Meeker Massacre and the Battle of Milk Creek during the time when the town was founded in 1885. Theodore Roosevelt once visited the town on a mountain lion hunting trip and stayed in the historic Hotel Meeker opposite the courthouse. He is noted for his founding in 1870 of the Union Colony, a cooperative agriculturalcolony in present-day Greeley, Colorado. Located in northwestern Colorado, Meeker provides a wide variety of opportunities and experiences for history buffs, wildlife enthusiasts, and adventure junkies. He received this appointment, although he lacked experience with Native Americans. Despite being one of fifteen hunting dogs owned by John B. Goff and utilized throughout the White River Hunt, Skip the brown terrier managed to stand out to Teddy Roosevelt as a fearless and loving dog. Statutory Town in State of Colorado, United States. document.write(year) Meeker Web Design by Blue Zenith LLC. History The town is named for Nathan Meeker, the United States Indian Agent who was killed along with 11 other U.S. citizens by White River Ute Indians in the 1879 Meeker Massacre. Explore the family home of Nathan Meker, founder of Union Colony, later known as Greeley. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99. Meeker asked Greeley for his help in starting a utopian colony. Meeker was the first incorporated town in Northwestern Colorado and is the county seat for Rio Blanco County. Meeker is the Statutory Town that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States. The average income for households in the unincorporated areas surrounding Meeker was $83,501. Before settling in the area, Nathan Meeker founded the Union Colony in 1870, located in what is now the city of Greeley, Colorado. Meeker, Colorado History The town is named for Nathan Meeker, the United States Indian Agent who was killed along with 11 other U.S. citizens by White River Ute Indians in the 1879 Meeker Massacre. Visitors with an interest in frontier history will be fascinated with the rich history that has shaped our town over the course of the last two centuries. The population density was 769.8 people per square mile (297.5/km2). However, you Meeker History (GC5MJZH) was created by Lockjaw on 2/10/2015. The White River Museum is located just north of the Rio Blanco County Courthouse and housed in several original wooden structures of the Army garrison. 1 : 760320 Rand McNally and Company The town is largely an agricultural community, located in the wide fertile valley of the White River in northwestern Colorado. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males. During this era, there was a big chaos happening at the Kansas-Nebraska territory (which had eventually proceeded to the Civil War). For the next twenty years, Meeker was the only incorporated town in northwestern Colorado. R if Meekers case count has continued to climb as well, with 41 active Tuesday. Jan 16, 2013 - The White River Museum is housed in two of the log buildings from the 1880s that served as officers quarters of the federal troops stationed in Meeker, as a result of the Meeker Massacre in 1879 and the infamous Milk Creek Battle, the last Indian Tribe/U.S.Army battle in America. They have provided Meeker with showing it's history and making sure no one forgets the past that allows us to live in or visit and enjoy Meeker today. The town was founded in 1883 following the removal of the troops. He founded the Union Colony at present-day Greeley as well as the citys oldest newspaper, the Greeley Tribune.In 1878 he was appointed Indian agent of the White River Agency in northwest Colorado. Nathan Meeker was the Indian Agent at White River Reservation, appointed in March 1878. Skip, the most famous dog from Meeker, joined the Roosevelt family as a loving companion to Kermit and younger son Archie. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5km2), all of it land. Support Colorado's History Together we will create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. The town was named in honor of Nathan Meeker, a journalist, homesteader and The area is known for our great hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreational sports. Led by Meeker resident and hunting guide John B. Goff, Roosevelt and two of his friends stayed in a cabin on Coyote Creek and spent three weeks hunting. The town is named for Nathan Meeker,[9] the United States Indian Agent who was killed along with 11 other U.S. citizens by White River Ute Indians in the 1879 Meeker Massacre. In 1878, Nathan Meeker was appointed United States (US) Indian agent at the White River Ute Indian Reservation, on the western side of the continental divide. precipitation in inch Av. After working as a stunt rider for a number of years, Sanderson ventured to Hollywood to perform as a stunt man in Western movies, but he didnt last in this position for very long soon he was a silent Western star for the Universal Film Company, appearing under the stage name Buddy Roosevelt.. The town emerged as a regional center for hunting by the turn of the 20th century. At one time in the early 1980s, energy operators and boosters projected that the small town would become a city of more than 20,000 resident 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. low Lo 7 12 22 28 35 43 Av. The White River Museum is one of the most treasured community driven buildings in Meeker. They conceived of the Union Colony (present day Greeley, Colorado) which was to be located in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The town is named for Nathan Meeker, the United States Indian Agent who was killed along with 11 other U.S. citizens by White River Ute Indians in the 1879 Meeker Massacre. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.73% of the population. The Meeker Public Library owes much of the history facts and photos of this project to them. Select from premium Meeker, Colorado of the highest quality. The town of Meeker was founded in 1885 following the removal of the Camp at White River, a United States Army garrison that was established during the White River War of 1879. In the early 1900s, Meeker developed a reputation as regional hunting destination. However, chances are youve never heard of Kenneth Sanderson, born in Meeker on June 25th, 1898. The Lindenmeier Site in Larimer County, Colorado, is a Folsom culture archaeological site with artifacts dating from approximately 8710 BCE. This will essentially be a tour of sorts. The Bureau of Land Management has a regional office in the town. var today = new Date() Climate Meeker - Colorado Jan Ja Feb Fe Mar Ma Apr Ap May Ma Jun Ju Average high in F Av. From numerous hiking and OHV trails to fishing along the White River and trail rides in the Flat Tops Wilderness area, Meeker has your interests covered. MEEKER FAMILY HISTORY Welcome to the Meeker Family History page by Tom Knuppel. In Rangely, third and fifth grade classes have been quarantined after two students tested positive. https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?co5484, "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990", Meeker Range Call and 4th of July Celebrations, Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meeker,_Colorado&oldid=987125368, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 5 November 2020, at 02:10. Meeker is the home of the annual Meeker Classic Sheepdog trials. The site of the massacre, the former White River Indian Agency, is located along State Highway 64 in the White River valley east of town and is marked by a prominent sign. About 9.0% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over. While we are renowned for the natural beauty of the Valley and our proximity to the Flat Tops Wilderness Area and White River National Forest, the Town of Meeker is also rich with history. Shawsheen, also known as Ute Susan was another excellent choice of important women in Colorado history to vote for, and as fate would surprisingly have it, an equal number of votes were cast for Josephine Meeker and The town sits about fifty-five miles east of the Rangely oil field, also in Rio Blanco County, which began to produce oil in earnest during World War II. The region that is today the state of Colorado was first inhabited by Native American people. Find the perfect Meeker, Colorado stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Now it is a beautiful and thriving community, rich in history. 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